Just received email from Rockstar Games confirming. Anyone else see this?

Here is the full text of the email:

There is a new comment in article [Updated 10/11/13 3PM ET] Loss of GTA Online characters, rank, items, apartments, money.

• Rockstar Games
  

  Updated 3PM ET 10/11/13: Given some of the recent technical issues (http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/51547/new-title-update-to-address-gta-online-game-progress-loss-and-ot.html) during these first days of GTA Online (http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/51422/some-more-details-on-grand-theft-auto-online.html), and now that things are starting to look much smoother (touch wood!), we are planning to provide a special stimulus package for all who have played or will play Grand Theft Auto Online this month. We will be dropping a cool half a million GTA$ in the GTA Online bank accounts of all players this month, starting as early as next week. For more details about how when and how the money will be awarded, see: Grand Theft Auto Online: Half a Million GTA$ Stimulus Package this Month (http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/51565/grand-theft-auto-online-half-a-million-gta-stimulus-package-this.html/#comments) For those asking about their lost characters or rank, those will not be able to be restored so we sincerely hope that this cash stimulus we’re giving out this month will help you get back on your feet or to make your new life in Los Santos & Blaine extra sweet.

Well good, because my 2nd character is now more than twice the level of my original.

This doesn't surprise me at all. If the data is gone, it's gone. There's not really anything that can be done about that.